Key Points

In Week 49 (December 1–7), the number of emergency department visits and hospitalizations following such visits increased among children (+9%, or +7,686 visits, and +7%, or +584 hospitalizations). These figures remained stable among adults.

Respiratory indicators continue to rise, with case numbers at levels comparable to or lower than those of previous years:

• All ages: influenza/flu-like illness (+119%, or +3,215 visits), acute bronchitis (+24%, or +360 visits), pneumonia (+11%, or +531 visits),

• Among children and those aged 15–74: ENT conditions (+11% and +8% respectively, or +1,260 and +218 visits),

• In children under 2 years of age and adults: suspected COVID-19 (+23% and +17% respectively, or +17 and +67 visits),

• Among those aged 75 and older for dyspnea/respiratory failure (+9%, or +148 visits).

In contrast, emergency department visits for bronchiolitis among children under 1 year of age have stabilized (+4% in Week 49, or +105 visits, vs. +25% in Week 48), at a level slightly lower than that observed the previous year. Visits for bronchiolitis in Week 49 accounted for 21% of emergency department activity for children under 1 year of age.

Among other indicators, the following increases are noted:

• Gastroenteritis across all age groups (+13%, or 525 more visits), vomiting in children (+18%, or 238 more visits)—at a higher level than in previous years—and abdominal pain in children (+9%, or 128 more visits), as well as dehydration in 2- to 14-year-olds in limited numbers (40 visits),

• Isolated fever in children and those aged 15–74 (+16% and +17% respectively, or +608 and +126 visits), malaise in children aged 2–14 and those aged 15–74 (+6%, or +74 visits),

• Conjunctivitis in children (+14%, or +41 visits), at a lower level than in previous years.